Bill · H.R. 3466· House(119-HR-3466)
SMART Act
- Introduced
- 5/15/2025
- Last activity
- 6/3/2025 — Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR H2408)
- Sponsored by
- David Schweikert
- Cosponsors
- None
- Introduced
What this bill would do
The SMART Act proposes several major changes to the Immigration and Nationality Act. It establishes a new points-based system to prioritize skilled immigrants and creates a "Gold-Card" program for high-level investors. The bill eliminates the Diversity Visa Program and sets a yearly limit of 50,000 on refugee admissions. It also shifts family-sponsored immigration priorities toward the spouses and minor children of permanent residents. Additionally, the act introduces new nonimmigrant classifications for parents of U.S. citizens and implements reforms to H-1B visas.
Yes· 3 of 10
Would people with substantial wealth be better off under this?+6
The bill creates specific pathways for those willing to invest millions into the U.S. economy.
Would the very wealthiest people be better off under this?+6
Large-scale investment opportunities are explicitly provided via the Gold-Card program.
Would billionaires be better off under this?+6
The bill creates pathways for significant capital investment in commercial enterprises.
The opposite· 3 of 4
Would immigrants be better off under this?-6
The bill reduces diversity visas, limits refugee admissions, and places new burdens on family sponsors.
Would households on low incomes be better off under this?-5
The bill limits refugee admissions and restricts points-based immigrants from federal benefits.
Does this make it easier for immigrants already here to become citizens?-5
The bill restricts several existing pathways, including the Diversity Visa and certain family-based categories.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
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Skills-Based Immigration: The creation of a points system allows the United States to prioritize immigrants based on specific qualifications like education, age, and English proficiency (Section 5).
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Economic Investment: The "Gold-Card" immigrant visa program provides a pathway for individuals to invest at least $5,000,000 into new commercial enterprises that create full-time jobs (Section 10).
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Support for U.S. Citizen Families: The bill creates a nonimmigrant classification for parents of U.S. citizens who are at least 21 years old, allowing them to reside in the country for 5-year periods (Section 4).
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Tie-Breaking for High Achievers: Under the points system, applicants with doctorate degrees or equivalent are ranked higher in the eligible applicant pool (Section 5).
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Economic Growth through Employment: The Gold-Card program requires investments that must benefit the economy by creating jobs for U.S. citizens or legal residents (Section 10).
Potential Negative Impacts for People
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Elimination of Diversity Visas: The bill strikes the existing Diversity Visa Program, which would remove that specific path to immigration (Section 2).
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Reduced Refugee Admissions: The bill sets a maximum limit of 50,000 admissions for refugees in any given fiscal year (Section 3).
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Restrictions on Family Immigration: Family-sponsored immigration is redefined to focus on the spouses and minor children of permanent residents, which may impact other family-based categories (Section 4).
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Burdens on Family Sponsors: Under the new nonimmigrant status for parents of citizens, the sponsoring U.S. citizen is responsible for the parent's support and must arrange health insurance at no cost to the parent (Section 4).
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Limitations on Public Benefits: Individuals admitted under the points-based system and their entire households are ineligible for Federal means-tested public benefits for five years (Section 5).
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Employment Restrictions for Parents: Nonimmigrants admitted as parents of U.S. citizens are not authorized to be employed in the United States (Section 4).
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Strict Educational Requirements for Students: Institutions under the Student and Exchange Visitor Program must require nonimmigrants to attend in-person classes at least 3 days per week (Section 7).
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Good For Billionaires+6Good For High Net Worth Individuals+6Good For Ultra High Net Worth Individuals+6Good For Business Owners+5Good For High Income Households+4Good For Immigrants-6Good For Low Income Households-5Good For Students-3
- Economy And Finance
- Increases Job Creation+5Improves Economic Growth+4
- Governance And Ideology
- Increases Federal Power+3
- National Security And Foreign Policy
- Increases Domestic Surveillance+2
- Social Issues And Justice
- Improves Border Security+3Improves Pathway To Citizenship-5
- 6/3/2025
- Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR H2408)
- 5/15/2025
- Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
- Introduced in House